Sales of flat steel products by Brazilian distributors increased to 343,400 mt in August, from 310,200 mt in July, according to the sector institute INDA.
Under the same comparative basis, purchases by the distributors chain increased by 14.8 percent to 345,800 mt, while the level of inventories increased by 0.3 percent to 843,900 mt, reaching the equivalent to 2.5 months of consumption, against 2.7 months in July, a level considered as comfortable, when compared to the historical average of 3.0 months of consumption.
Imports in August increased by 14.2 percent from July, reaching 231,000 mt, including heavy plates, HRC, CRC, zinc coated, HDG, pre-painted and Galvalume.
According to INDA, expectations for September are for purchases and sales declining by 3 percent from August.
Speaking in a conference with analysts, the president of Inda, Carlos Loureiro, mentioned that the current price premium of steel products in the Brazilian domestic market, when compared to the imported product after clearing customs, is now in a range of 13 to 14 percent, against 18 to 20 percent one month ago, figures now approaching the historical level of 10 percent.